Bob beats Drew any day...

I stayed home this morning awaiting the heater repairman. At 10 a.m. I tuned in to my favorite game show, The Price is Right. I hadn't watched since Drew Carey began hosting.

I was sorely disappointed. I know, I know. I've only watched him once and only for about 30 minutes. But he didn't even look like he was having any fun. He was sort of making fun of the whole price is right show. He was NO Bob Barker. Bob made his contestants feel special - as goofy or quirky as they were. I thought Drew just made them look dumb. There was no passion, no interest in the price of the mattress & box springs or the golf clubs. It made me wonder if Drew Carey has ever had to buy baking soda or a popcorn maker.

I think Bob Barker just brought a little bit of glamour to the daytime talk show. I hope he is enjoying retirement.

Why can't I be thin and rich?

I've been participating in "the Biggest Loser" at work for the past three weeks. I lost three pounds the first week and have put all but one of them back on.

I hate this. Any suggestions?

I'm trying Jazzercise tomorrow evening. We've had shortened jazzercise workouts at lunch at work. I have enjoyed it and felt like it was a challenging workout. There's no way I'd have the patience to walk for an hour...but I think the jazzercise can keep me engaged for an hour. I just hope I can make it. No caving. I've gotta do it.

Your words of encouragement are greatly appreciated.

My dad meets the most unusual folks

After my mom died in 2001, my dad wandered alone for awhile, dated someone briefly and then met a very nice woman in Amarillo and married her. They have since moved to a small town outside of Abilene, Texas where they are adding on to their small home.

He was in the process of trying to set the walls on his addition - by himself. He is that way...just works a lot by himself. His wife, Linda, was attempting to help him...when a man in a van drove up. He got out of the car...barefoot, bearded.

He offered to help. My dad said he couldn't pay him...the man said it was OK. He would just work in exchange for dinner.

It turns out the man's name is Skip Stanley, a renegade former cult member who now builds houses between adventures. The guy and his girlfriend stayed in my Dad's shed for almost a week and helped him finish the walls and the roof of the addition. Dad considered him an angel in disguise. We checked out his website. How does my dad attract such "angels?" I don't know. Just glad he is OK and he got the help he needed.